Page 32 - World Airnews September 2020 Edition

AIR VENTURE AIR VENTURE
2019 2019

50 YEARS TO ALL OF AVIATION ferent emotions. That little sliver of light
"If I think back on Apollo 11, I get dif-

we have is nothing what it's like when the
By David Tulis moon is close. It's bulbous, it almost feels
like it's trying to come in your window" on
the space ship,” a newspaper reported.
Aerospace designer Burt Rutan and his
brother Dick led a rapt discussion on some
of their ground-breaking design concepts

during an evening presentation that far
exceeded the expected two-hour window.
Attendees stayed and asked questions of

the two until the wee hours of the morning.

Rutan was later spotted at the homebuilt
parking area near one of his earliest de-
signs, the VariViggen.
Then it was time for the fighter planes.

Multiple passes by modern and vintage

military aircraft including the McDonnell

Douglas F- 15 Eagle, F/A - 18 Hornet, Lock- Lunar commander astronaut Mike Collins recounts his mission circling the moon
heed Martin's F-22 Raptor and F- 35 Light-

ning, as well as the Fairchild Republic A- 10

Thunderbolt had the ground trembling. The event was a tribute to retired US Air over the next 50 years had everyone talking.

The formation of 18 North American P-51 Force Col. Bud Anderson, a World War II Lycoming unveiled an electronic ignition

Mustangs was one of the largest gatherings triple ace. system, Pipistrel introduced the Alpha
of Mustangs in recent years. Earlier in the week crowds swelled around Electric trainer with an integrated Bendix-

A nineteenth P-51 Mustang operated the nosegear-equipped NXCub that Cub- King flight deck designed to be intuitive
Airshow newcomer Jessy Panzer wowed crowds at the by EAA and still in the restoration process Crafters showed off and a small mock up of for student pilots, and aerobatic specialist

flight line during a technically demanding two-ship taxied past show centre for a run up that the EmbraerX electric vertical takeoff and Walter Extra debuted the Extra NG- the

formation performance with airshow great Sean D. Tucker proved to be an auditory surprise as the landing (eVTOL) passenger aircraft concept. first all-composite model by the master

Merlin V-12 engine screamed for release. This example of what aviation holds in store aerobatic airplane maker. Q
Panzer wowed crowds at the flight line

legendary airshow performer Julie Clark during a technically demanding two-ship

espite a soggy start, this year’s EAA who flew Beech T–34 Mentor that this formation performance with airshow great CLASSIC WARBIRDS

DAirVenture’s att endance record hit would be her last time at AirVenture. Sean D. Tucker as part of their high-flying
Clark has flown the same Beechcraft T-34

an all time high of 642 000 - a 6.8 percent Mentor that she bought, sight unseen, in New Team Oracle act.

increase from last year - as huge crowds 1977 for (US) $18,000 from a government They end their routine with an aerial heart
of general aviation pilots and enthusiasts surplus auction in Anchorage, Alaska. She as a shout-out to “the men and women serv-

visited the Wittman Regional Airport in Osh- flew the airplane 2,900 miles back home to ing our country,” she said after a demonstra-

tion flight in the Oracle Extra 300.

kosh, Wisconsin, for the fiftieth time. California, where she restored it, painstak- “We love what we’re doing, and we love merica’s iconic World War II Mustangs flock to Osh-

Experimental Aircraft Association Presi- ingly polishing the aluminium surfaces and this great country that we live in,” she Akosh every year, and it is not unusual to see 25 or so

dent and CEO Jack Pelton said this year there dubbing it Free Spirit. said. Panzer, an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical packed together in the warbirds parking area. Each gather-

were more than 2,700 showplanes, 100 sea- Clark’s retirement marks the end of a ca- University graduate and a corporate and ing brings out one or two new restorations, or older aircraft

planes - 30 more than last year and “more reer that has spanned more than 40 years. aerobatic pilot, thanked Tucker and other whose new owners have repainted them in the colours of

than 1,000 total homebuilt aircraft” on site. She will still fly at the Thunder over Georgia mentors for the opportunities that allow her their favourite aces. There are plenty of colour schemes to

“Overall, I am very proud of the efforts of Air Show at Georgia's Robins Air Force Base to represent other young women in aviation. choose from, as P-51s in the European theatre gradually saw

our 5, 500 volunteers, staff, and everyone this month and have her final performance “It takes a lot of hard work, a little break their drab olive camouflage replaced first with splashes of

involved this year,” Pelton said. “Our 50th con- at the Julie Clark’s Farewell Air Show on now and then, and a lot of help from your colour and individual nose art, and later were stripped down
secutive year in Oshkosh was one to remem- October 19 at Rancho Murieta Airport in friends, but I hope to be an inspiration to to bare metal as they gained the upper hand in enemy skies.

ber for us, and for everyone who attended.” Rancho Murieta, California. show other girls that you can do it if you stick P-51s of various models were there from the early “cabin”

The FAA Air Traffic Control crews han- Meanwhile, airshow newcomer Jessy with it. If you have a goal and you version to the ubiquitous bubble-canopied P-51D. Three different companies bought up surplus P-51Ds, broke

dled 14,500 aircraft movements have a dream -and you just make This year's show even brought out a post-war Cavalier Mus- them down into components and rebuilt them into Cavalier

F-51Ds. This example (NL51DL) was remanufactured
through nine days and that number little decisions every day that get tang - originally a conversion of the fighter into a fast, two-seat

was expected to exceed 15,000 you closer to that goal - you will get civil transport, but it was not long before the aircraft found its in 1967 and is painted in the colours Cavaliers used in

especially as the Sunday and there eventually,” she said. way back into military service in Central America the El Salvador air force. Photo: Maureen Spuhler
Monday movements had not been Marking the 50 year anniversa- Planned in conjunction with the US Air Force Air Combat

factored in. ry of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Command, the EAA Warbirds of America, and individual air- • A gathering of US Navy fighter aircraft, including F4U

Some of the more highlights the airshow and GA convention craft owners some of the activities visitors enjoyed AirVen- Corsairs, the gullwing fighters that were a key asset in the

from this year included the tribute brought lunar commander ture’s seven-day run included. Pacific Theater;

to Michael Collins at the Theatre astronaut Mike Collins, 88 to • Aircraft from the USAF Air Combat Command, including • Observance of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, with aircraft

in the Woods, a welcome back the stage at the Theatre in the fighters such as the F-15, F-18, F-22, and F-35, as well as that participated in the actual invasion on June 6, 1944, as

to Burt Rutan and The Gathering Woods venue. He wowed an the A-10 attack aircraft; well as C-47 airplanes that will have just returned from a

event which raised (US) $2.8 mil- evening crowd during a talk that • The first Oshkosh appearance of the unique XP-82 Twin historic anniversary flight to France;

lion to advance EAA’s programmes reminisced about his mission to Mustang, which has been under restoration in Georgia; • U.S. Air Force Heritage Flights and U.S. Navy Legacy Flights

this year. circle the moon in the command involving historic and modern aircraft in formation, high-

Other events and announce- module while Neil Armstrong and • A salute to World War II ace Bud Anderson, with every lighting the legacy and evolution of military aircraft. Q

flying P-51 in the U.S. invited to Oshkosh to participate;
ments need to be mentioned Buzz Aldrin took mankind's first

included the announcement by steps on the lunar surface.
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